Shellharbour's Boer War memorial damaged

By
DOMINIC GEIGER

A teenager has admitted to damaging a 100-year-old Boer War monument in Shellharbour at the weekend.

Picture: Courtesy of Shellharbour City Council

A teenager has admitted to damaging a 100-year-old Boer War monument in Caroline Chisholm Park, Shellharbour Village, at the weekend.

The damage was initially thought to have been an act of vandalism, however the teenager’s father came forward after Warilla RSL Sub-branch president Kim Kearney reported the matter to Shellharbour Council.

The teen’s father said his son had been climbing on the monument when the top section, or ‘‘finial’’, broke off on Friday night.

The incident happened just weeks after the RSL Sub-branch spent $25,000 refurbishing the structure.

Mr Kearney said the boy’s father had since offered to pay for the damage.

He said the value of the damage was estimated to be around $4,500.

The finial has been taken back to the Warilla Sub-branch for safe keeping.

The sub-branch will work with Shellharbour Council to mend the monument.